ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications

• ESA and European Commission to build quantum-secure space communications network

  Today in Brussels, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission consolidated their cooperation on the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI), marking the successful conclusion of negotiations and clearing the way for development to begin. EuroQCI is an advanced network that aims to protect everything from personal data to Europe's critical infrastructure, using proven principles of quantum physics.

• ESA and Viasat to explore advanced satellite direct-to-device connectivity

  Today in Brussels, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Viasat signed an agreement to explore a partnership concerning a direct-to-device (D2D) satellite system, aiming to provide mobile broadband connectivity anytime, anywhere.

• ESA and Hisdesat set to launch next-generation secure communications satellite

  Hisdesat, Spain's premier provider of secure satellite communications, is set to launch its SpainSat Next Generation I (SNG I) satellite aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on 29 January from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 20:34 EST (30 January at 02:34 CET). The European Space Agency (ESA)-supported satellite will provide more cost-effective, adaptable and secure communication services for governments and emergency response teams across Europe, North and South America, Africa, the Middle East and up to Singapore in Asia.

• ESA’s Civil Security from Space
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  ESA’s Civil Security from Space programme aims to save lives and livelihoods by reinforcing terrestrial systems that can become compromised by natural disasters or malicious actions.

  It aims to deliver a faster response than is presently possible by ensuring that real-time data is available anywhere through state-of-the-art space-enabled systems, making use of secure networks and reliable cloud computing to ensure the information is resilient and reliable. The programme also aims to enable governments and emergency services to act on an unfolding situation by using smart data gathering and intelligent processing to create a holistic awareness of the situation.

• Estonia to host Europe's new space cybersecurity testing ground

  The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Estonian Space Office have set out to develop Europe's newest space cyber range that aims to make space technology more secure and accessible for companies across Europe. Last year, Estonian industry was invited to submit proposals for concepts, and today the contract has been signed with a consortium led by Spaceit to begin development.